New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-01
. AMERICAN SHIPPING.

The American Shipping and Industrial
League embraces some worthy and excellent
| men, and has in view an object which deserves
public sympathy. To increase and develop
the American merchant marine. to free our
commerce from dependence upon British ship
ping, to secure the appointment OF consuls
abroad who shall have at least as much interest
in American trade and industry as in the pro-
motion of British or other foreign interests,
are worthy objects. 1t may be added that 81
most everyb ody is in favor Of them, or would
be in favor of them, if. Rabid Free Traders
would be in favor of them, if it were not neces-
sary to encourage home industry broadly and
tremendously in order to keep in power men
who would promote any part OF that industry
effectively Newspapers which are devoted to
British interests would be in favor of these
OBJ jects. if they could get as much for hep,ng
as they now get for opposing them Public
men of both parties would be in favor OF them,
if they did not desire first to secure nice places
in the consular and diplomatic service for
their own friends and effective workers. a
good many other worthy causes. as well as this,
resemble the cause Of Prohibition in Maine.
wheIe there are many persons in favor Oh uhe
Maine law, but opposed to its enforcement
The meeting of the Lake Shore and Misss-
sippi Valley Department Of the American Ship
ping and Industrial League at Chicago on
Wednesday was attended by number OF men
of influence, who listened to some interesting
arguments. Congressman Lawlcr was called
to the chair, ard earnestly combatted I" tho
ignorant and foolish expressions OF two
members of the Cook County Democratic
IL 1acla inc
that the four members Of Congress from thar
city Z" favor the movement in the interest OF
n merchant marine lie believed that part
of the money appropriated by Government
should be applied to the protection OF our ships
in foreign waters, and to the strengthening OF
our Notifications. Mr.. HILL Of Washington.
argued that British ideas and interests had
governed our action on this subject long
enough: that there were newspapers in New
York which received a subsidy each year for
disparaging American shipbuilding, and on-
posing all measures to promote 1t.
The only serious difficulty in the way oil tho
objects of this convention is that the party now
in control Of the House of Representatives
and of the executive departments is essentially
hostile to all practical measures by which an
American merchant marine can be developed.
A largo majority of its active politicians fanat-
ically favor free trade. and igporantly oppose
appropriations for the development OF ghe for
eign mail service. They uphold an Admins
tlation which distoIts existing laws in order
to defeat protection, and lawcssly ddies and
disobcys acts of Congress in order TO prevent
the payment for foreign mail service OF sum
sufficient to insure the establishment of Amcri-
can liros. The Shipping and Industrial League
probably is not aware Of the fact. but it can
practically promote its object in one way, and
in only one way effectively, by ovcrthrowipe
the Democratic party and clecting a Repub-
lican President and Congress.